Portret van Alfred Assollant 1861 - 1867

Curator: Ah, look at this striking gelatin-silver print, "Portret van Alfred Assollant," attributed to Carjat et Cie., created sometime between 1861 and 1867. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: The first thing that jumps out at me is how...solid he looks. Rooted. Like a sturdy oak resisting a strong wind. It's an incredibly composed image. Curator: Indeed. Photography in this period was undergoing rapid development, influencing and being influenced by social and cultural shifts. The carte-de-visite format, small portraits like these, democratized image-making. Suddenly, portraiture wasn't just for the elite. Editor: I see what you mean. It's funny, though. This isn't exactly casual, is it? There’s a definite air of formality. Still, there is also this intense stillness, like the shutter had to work around this moment rather than the other way. Curator: Well, consider the sitter: Alfred Assollant was a noted novelist. Having such a portrait taken would reinforce his image, a visual assertion of his professional standing. Carjat was one of the notable portrait studios in Paris. Editor: Right. Still, I love how this pre-snapshot era forces this deliberate consideration, and he returns that consideration in kind. He seems to be studying us as much as we're studying him! Curator: The pose, the lighting, all deliberately curated. These elements tell us a lot about the social expectations of the time. The emphasis on respectability, the cultivation of a public persona…photography was becoming a crucial tool in shaping public opinion and personal reputation. Editor: There's a story etched on his face, beneath the beard, in his eyes. The photographic plate might freeze the pose, but those eyes betray movement. Curator: A sentiment perfectly understandable from a portrait destined for a collection with a historical interest. Editor: So much contained within this frame. Makes me wonder, what portrait would I commission if I were alive then? Curator: One can only imagine. Thank you for these considerations. It does seem like this work will remain as one to study for years to come.